Winning
and succeeding are apparently two
different things at CU. The Buffs
opened up 3-0, and, in the hubbub,
as they reached their third Big 12
championship game in four years, many
chose to ignore the off-field scandals
and watch the fun. Colorado tried
to put the sexual misconduct charges
and their coaches' insensitive words
behind them this way, but now it resurfaces
and should again be enough distraction
to derail where this squad could go
if focused. The school's president
during this time of crisis (Ms. Elizabeth
Hoffman) has chosen now to resign
as of June 30, 2005, and she sites
leaked grand jury testimonies - that
(1) indicts one former department
employee for soliciting sex from prostitutes
(for recruits), (2) substantiates
two female trainers accusations of
sexual assault by an assistant, and
(3) corroborates a slush account set
up via funds made through head coach
Barnett's football camp - as the main
reasons. Nine women have made similar
sexual assault claims, and their lack
of follow through does not reflect
on a lack of evidence, just fear of
reprisal and career/personal damage
due to Barnett's denials being so
strong (and the years it would take
to prove guilty those assumed to be
innocent).

As
we said last year here, Gary Barnett
is doing nothing good for (college)
football by continuing to set such
a terrible example for his players
by hiding the truth. Hoffman has the
integrity to step aside, realizing
that she isn't bigger than this, and
helps the university move through
it quicker by doing so. Barnett's
example of constant denial in the
face of legitimate evidence says so
much about what is being taught to
these student-athletes - that football
is more important than genuinely hurting
others and is above the morals of
society. And if this situation doesn't
affect the minds of the players and
therefore the play on the field, then
we marginally digress from stressing
this as an on-field factor.

Barnett's
contract goes through 2006. For now,
he is concentrating on football. (Conveniently
stated), "It starts all over
now," he said. "Just because
we've got some guys coming back doesn't
mean we're going to be a better team.
It just means that we've got a bunch
of guys who've got a year's experience.
We're going to have to make it all
work." The line on both sides
will trickle down any abilities to
try more adventurous plays/schemes.
Special teams are also a big plus
and will assuredly win them a few
close ones with such stellar booters.

And,
as always, they'll have to make it
work with a difficult slate. Respectably,
their schedule is always brutal, making
on-field adversity an eventual asset.
Rival Colorado State and Miami (FL)
set in motion a whirlwind sequence,
and CU's only solace is how Oklahoma
isn't included.

After
CU won the Houston Bowl to cap the
'04 season, Vickers looked around
Reliant Stadium and looked ahead to
next season, when the Big 12 championship
game will be played there. "No
ifs, ands or buts about it, we're
coming back," he said. "We're
coming back. We're going to be really,
really great next year. We have too
many people coming back for us not
to be."

Guys
like Vickers are why CU has any chance,
for his/their abilities to persevere
and lead by altruistic example are
the only way other young minds will
get something positive/worthy out
of the whole experience. What these
young men do to achieve through such
tough times will become self-sustained
inner-qualities that will then get
them through the real tests in life.
Kudos to the players for sticking
to their commitments and living up
to their word(s). Anyone on the field
is therefore a winner to us.

It's
just too bad that Barnett & Co.
cannot see their negative impact masked
by the wins. Is this a successful
program on the field? Yes But,
most importantly, is it a successful
program when these boys need to learn
about themselves/each other off the
field? Unfortunately, not so much,
and it won't until Barnett follows
Hoffman and makes CU football and
its players'/coaches' integrities
a bigger issue than his own sorry
hide.

Quarterback
Buffaloes quarterback Joel Klatt led CU
to an 8-5 mark, including a bowl victory,
in what can only be described as a trying
season (off-the-field controversy). So,
Klatt's production dropped dramatically
- he went from a 21:10 TD:INT-ratio to 9:15,
and his efficiency rating dropped from 140.2
to 109.3. Klatt has the arm strength and
accuracy to succeed, but he often makes
poor decisions on the run or when a play
is busted, and this rattles him. The WR
corps is again there, so excuses won't fly
this campaign. Junior backup James Cox has
the feet to go with the arm - a former 200
(23.4) and 400 (54.0) meter runner, he has
60-minute stamina as well as 4.6-second
40-speed. His play has proven valuable,
with aerial numbers that (on scale) match
Klatt's, but his INTs have, too, been a
bit more frequent. But since Klatt is leaving
and Cox is the heir-apparent, look for Cox'
insertion early and often so any more growing
pains can be exercised ASAP. Spring reps
could even shake his shortcomings, and the
push he then gives Klatt to start can only
sharpen the Klatt Cannon or make the change
happen sooner. Buffalo fans win either way,
and the QB play will assuredly improve via
whichever development happens. Quickster
dual-threat Bernard Jackson will also figure
in with the new guard, so he sees limited
reps.

Receiver
This is a fairly deep unit. At least seven
players caught between 20 and 29 passes,
and five of them return. Senior Evan Judge
at one wideout will lead this crew, but
the excitement is over junior Blake Mackey
and soph Dusty Sprague. A stud with sprinter's
speed (47.9-sec in the 400 meter won state)
and NFL hands and size, Mackey is the only
proven deep threat. But Sprague is himself
a former hurdler-sprinter, and will only
add to stretching the field so the underneath
stuff can reestablish the passing game's
confidence ASAP. The Buffs have developed
a truly vertical passing game that few teams
in the Big 12 can defend. Talent and size
here mean that in order to solve the passing
game's woes, the QBs have to deliver to
this highly capable corps.

Running
Back
The Buffs utilize the scat-type back and
what is now termed a "V"-back,
named for all-around impact player Lawrence
Vickers. A VB is that huge FB-type that
has tailback quickness with the range to
effectively line up wide, too. Stuck in
the shadows behind Purify, Vickers will
start and be the feature back (25+ per game).
His 27 catches make him expandable (into
the slot) so that other kind of back (sophs
Byron Ellis and Hugh Charles) can make this
multi-dimensional running game have its
maximum impact (as is needed). There's speed
to burn here, with even a legitimate backup
VB in Daniel Jolly. Incoming local Maurice
Greer will test his lightning first-step,
too.

Tight
End
Joe Klopfenstein is a punishing combination
of pass-catcher/blocker who does both with
equal greatness. Even better, the Buffaloes
love to utilize the tight end in their offense,
so expect much from Klopfenstein.

Offensive
Line
Center Mark Fenton will have to break in
whoever plays to his right. Some may say
that's a problem; but we feel it can only
help to turnover a marginal group. Look
no further than here to see why Klatt fell
off so much. Additionally, CU was only 89th
in rushing and allowed 31 sacks. Look for
increased playing time and starting roles
for Edwin Harrison and Gary Moore to inject
some soul here. Four-star recruit Garrett
Collins represents a marginal group of newbies
- they are lighter and quicker than what
exists, though, a good match for when Cox
is in.

OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
All the concerns from last year have shifted.
The receivers are not the problem anymore.
Instead, a shaky QB (who regressed) and
an unworthy line plague these Buffaloes.
Classically, he line's level of play will
be the main determinant factor for the rest
of the offense. The senior Klatt ha sit
in him to be a good decision-maker, as you
see CU's passing efficiency went from 18th
in the country to 73rd. The short pass,
utilizing the talents of the "V"-backs
and TEs, will open the other possibilities
up. But when they can't get four per carry
as/against a team, watch how CU again is
shut down totally, with little ability to
instead use the pass to open up the run.
That is, until Cox gets his wheels straight
and takes over (what is now) his reserved
seat for next season.

LB
Thaddaeus Washington

COLORADO
2005 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters/Key
Players

OFFENSE

QB

Joel
Klatt-Sr (6-1, 210)

James
Cox-Jr (6-3, 210)

FB

Lawrence
Vickers-Sr (6-2, 235)

Paul
Creighton-Jr (6-5, 250)

TB

Hugh
Charles-So (5-8, 185)

Byron
Ellis-So (6-0, 200)

WR

Dusty
Sprague-So (6-4, 190)

Alvin
Barnett-So (6-0, 190)

WR

Evan
Judge-Sr (6-2, 215)

Blake
Mackey-Jr (6-3, 200)

TE

Joe
Klopfenstein-Sr (6-6, 245)

Quinn
Sypniewski-Sr (6-7, 265)

OT

Tyler
Polumbus-So (6-8, 280)

Carl
Zoellner-So (6-2, 290)

OG

Edwin
Harrison-So (6-4, 305)

Jack
Tipton-Jr (6-3, 285)

C

Mark
Fenton-Jr (6-4, 295)

Bryce
MacMartin-Jr (6-2, 290)

OG

Brian
Daniels-Jr (6-5, 300)

Garrett
Collins-So (6-3, 270)

OT

Clint
O'Neal-Sr (6-6, 300)

Gary
Moore-Sr (6-6, 320)

K

Mason
Crosby-Jr (6-2, 210)

Kevin
Eberhart-So (5-10, 185)

2005
DEFENSE

Defensive
Line
The good - lots of experience still here,
especially with backup DE Abe Wright. The
bad: Colorado was 69th in run defense with
only 20 sacks. The ugly: Colorado's chances
of getting more from the same guys haven't
increased very much. None of the returning
starters proved able to handle tougher competition
(OU and Texas ate them up). One year later,
they won't be good enough still. Similar to
the offense, the line here seems to be growing
lighter and quicker, and this can only help
- if your big men can't break through when
needed, try (the common DE pass-rushing strategy
of) going around them. Barnett will shuffle
things in September to keep legs fresh and
to see just who is worthy of getting the most
time. If/when foes can again run it 500+ times
at 4.1 per try, expect the entire team to
suffer ripple affects (play calling and clock
management are entirely revamped when a DL
can't hold its own, impacting everyone).

Linebacker
Accordingly with where we think the line's
emphasis should be, this seasoned, experienced
group is svelte with great quickness, and
succeeds due to such. Senior Brian Iwuh is
the beast who goes sideline-to-sideline, able
to quickly get to wherever he is needed. CU's
linebackers might be among the fastest in
the conference and each has a nose for the
ball. Senior inside-sub Akarica Dawn bolsters
well (his 13 third-down stops led team). The
talent in the initial two-deep is strong,
but drops off from there rather quickly. In
other words, injuries cannot be afforded for
what is sure to be the glue/strongest unit
on this side of the ball. Sixty minutes of
covering the other position's collective/individual
asses will take its toll in the fourth quarter(s)
as the deeper Big XII squads exploit this
with their super-deep rosters.

Defensive
Back
All four players who started are back, yet
for what should have been a tight, cohesive
unit, Colorado was an appalling 105th in
pass defense (though 69th in efficiency).
Upperclassmen Sims and Burle have held their
own well, but the safeties have been pulled
to help in so many places that they cannot
yet find their true groove. Neither corner,
though experienced, could be called a true
cover corner. A few chances (like allowing
LBs to pass and/or run blitz) will have
to be taken if there is going to be any
help for the line's assured struggles. This
means modestly-stacked recruiting results
will dictate (via their levels of play in
nickel- and dime-packages) just how the
entire defense eventually is applied. Early
trial-by-fire grading should yield better
second half results as the proper guys are
by then found and inserted.

DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
So many players are returning that there
are only two holes in this entire starting
crew. So why worry? Oh, little things like
Colorado giving up 60 more first downs than
it made, allowing an average of 5.4 yards
on first down, allowing opposing teams a
third-down conversion rate of almost 45%.
The Buffs were 94th in total defense last
year, the worst among the 12 conference
teams. With this many back having lived/player
through so many off-field distractions (still),
adversity ostensibly has not been taught
to build character, or has it? Results will
quickly dictate whether the massive youth
movement is to be kicked off earlier than
expected, or if battle scars have taught
fruitful lessons. This tentative balance
means there will be little improvement overall,
though run-stopping numbers should improve.

LB
Brian Iwuh

COLORADO
2005 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters/Key
Players

DEFENSE

DE

Alex
Ligon-Jr (6-3, 250)

Alonzo
Barrett-So (6-3, 240)

NT

Vaka
Manupuna-Sr (6-1, 290)

Marcus
Jones-Jr (6-4, 300)

DT

James
Garee-Sr (6-6, 275)

John
Guydon-Sr (6-2, 285)

DE

Abraham
Wright-Jr (6-3, 240)

Greg
Newman-So (6-4, 235)

ILB

Thaddaeus
Washington-Jr (5-11, 240)

Walter
Boye-Doe-Jr (6-4, 240)

ILB

Jordon
Dizon-So (6-0, 215)

Akarika
Dawn-Sr (6-2, 240)

OLB

Brian
Iwuh-Sr (6-0, 225)

Brad
Jones-Fr (6-4, 220)

CB

Gerett
Burl-Jr (5-10, 160)

Vance
Washington-Jr (5-10, 185)

CB

Lorenzo
Sims-Sr (5-11, 185)

Stephone
Robinson-So (5-9, 185)

SS

Dominique
Brooks-Jr (6-1, 200)

Charlie
Sherman-Fr (6-1, 190)

FS

J.J.
Billingsley-Jr (5-11, 185)

Tyrone
Henderson-Jr (5-10, 175)Tom
Hubbard-Sr (6-5, 220)

P

John
Torp-Sr (6-2, 205)

Mason
Crosby-Jr (6-2, 210)

2005
SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker
Finally, a bright spot After an erratic 2003,
NC.net second-team all-American Mason Crosby came
into his own, hitting 79% of his tries (and 5-of-7
from 50+, with one from 60!). He finished third
in the country in field goals made and will have
an inside track for the Lou Groza Award.

Punter
John Torp is back after he finished second in
the country with an average of 46.54 yards per
try. The net results were even better (nation's
best), a funny reality when considering the defense's
play. But how can we say this will change? We
can't, so field position battles will be won here,
too.

Return
Game
The special team's flip side is found here, as
Colorado finished 82nd in PR average and 65th
in KO returns. Terrance Wheatley did his KO job
well, but Stephone Robinson, who did take one
back for a score last year, needs to pick it up
to remain his partner. Robinson is adequate in
PR, but spring action will yield another speedy
guy, so stay tuned here for any further developments.